Mailbox



NOV. 18,1947. GAULDIN 2,431,171

MAILBOX Filed July 31, 1947 Fig. 4 /0 Robert A. Gnu/din InventorPatented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAILBOX Robert A.Gauldin, Houma, La. Application July 31, 1947, Serial No. 765,168

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved mailbox of a constructionwherein the step of inserting and removing letters, and the like, isboth simplified and expedited.

Briefly, in carrying out the principles of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, I provide a box whose top is closed by a lid-like cover,and whose open bottom is closed in by hingedly mounted panel-likemembers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mailbox of theaforementioned type wherein, due to the presence of the hinged panelmembers, the postman may insert the mail items upwardly from the bottomof the box in such a manner that the letters will be gripped in ajaw-like manner between said members, whereby upon swinging said membersinto the box, they will thus become spaced apart and will provide asubstantially unobstructed opening, whereby the letters and other itemswill drop into the hand of the user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a special bottomconstruction permitting the aforementioned results to be obtained and toalso have a suitable lid closure at the top just so that in situationswhere the bottom members jam and do not work satisfactorily, the mailmay be fished from the box by way of the removable cover or lid.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box constructed in accordancewith my ideas;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the structure seenin Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional View, at right angles toFigures 2 and 3, said view being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals thebox proper is denoted by the numeral 6 and is of rectangular tubularform and the open top thereof is closed by a, lid 1. As beforeindicated, the closure means for the bottom comprises a pair ofsubstantially rectangular duplicate panel-like members or leaves 8.These are suificient in size and so proportioned that they fit withinthe confines of the lower end portion of the boX. In fact, the lower endportion of the box surrounds the perimeter portions of the 2 leaves andprovides a sort of a shielding skirt. The opposite ends of the membersare downturned to provide ears or flanges 9 and said flanges serve toreinforce the members and also provide satisfactory ways and meanswhereby said members are mounted on parallel rocker shafts Ill. Therocker shafts are mounted for rotation in suitable bearings in the endwalls of the box. Certain ends project and are fashioned into handcranks as at II. The numeral 12 designates a package or newspaper clipwhich is exteriorly mounted on one side of the boX.

It is obvious that the mailman may simply shove the mail up between thehingedly mounted closure leaves or panels 8. In so doing, they swing upand outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. This permits theletters to be thus inserted in a package-like group as shown in dottedlines and the leaves then drop down by the force of gravity and providea jaw-like grip on the letters. This is sufficient to hold the lettersin place within the confines of the protective box. When the resident oruser of the box comes along to remove the mail, he operates the cranksand then simply reaches up under the box and forces the leaves ormembers 8 open and allows the mail to drop down into his hand. Or, ifpreferred he can spread the leaves apart wholly by use of said cranksand cause the contents to drop down into his hand. In case the mail getsjammed, for some reason or other, and may not be conveniently removed byway of the opening between said panel members 8, the lid 1 is removedand the mail is then taken out in a more or less normal fashion throughthe open top.

By using an open bottom box and closing the open bottom through themedium of a pair of coacting gravity swingable leaves or panels theeffect is similar to the formation of a slot in the receptacle enclosingthe slot by automatically closable members. It is believed, therefore,that in reviewing the description and claims this sort of aninterpretation should be kept in mind.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction withthe invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader toobtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features ofmerit and novelty suificient to clarify the construction of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts maybe resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made fromthe invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A mailbox of the class described comprising a substantiallyrectangular box, open at its top and also open at its bottom, a rimequipped closing lid mounted on said open top, a pair of spaced parallelrocker shafts mounted for operation in the lower portion of the box,said rocker shafts having end portions extending beyond one wall of thebox and formed into hand cranks, a pair of closure panels, said panelsbeing secured to said rocker shafts, having their free swingable edgescoacting with each other to form closure means for the open bottom, saidpanels being swingable upwardly and outwardly, whereby to permit mail tobe pushed bodily up between the panels into the box and also to permitthe panels to be swung up and away from each other and the mail to dropdown from the box between the swingable edges of the panels.

2. In a mail box of the class described, a box proper having its top andbottom portions open and permitting access to be had to the interior forinserting and removing mail from either the top or the bottom of thebox, and individual closure devices for normally closing the top andbottom portions of said box, one of said closure devices comprising apair of coacting hingedly mounted panel-like members mounted on rockershafts, the rocker shafts having hand cranks and the hand cranks beingavailable for operation outside of the box.

3. In a mail box of the class described, a box proper having its topnormally closed and its bottom open to permit access to be had to theinterior from the bottom and for inserting and removing mail by way ofsaid bottom, and a closure device for said bottom comprising a pair ofcoacting hingedly mounted panel-like members, rocker shafts mounted foroperation in said box, said panel-like members being mounted on saidrocker shafts, corresponding ends of said rocker shafts having handcranks and the hand cranks being arranged and available for operationfrom the outside of the box.

4. A mail box of the class described comprising a box, said box beingopen at its bottom, a pair of spaced parallel rocker shafts mounted foroperation in the lower portion of the bottom, said rocker shafts havingend portions extending beyond one wall of the box and being formed intohand cranks, a pair of closure panels, said panels being secured to saidrocker shafts, having their free swingable edges coacting with eachother to form closure means for the otherwise open bottom, said panelsbeing swingable upwardly and outwardly toward the walls of the box topermit mail to be pushed bodily up between the panels into the box andalso to permit the panels to be swung up and away from each other andthe mail to drop down from the box between the swingable edges of thepanels, in the manner and for the purposes described.

ROBERT A. GAULDIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 616,330 Horder Dec. 20, 1898808,872 Raymond et a1 Jan. 5, 1906 2,414,613 Reutsch Jan. 21, 1947

